Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1887-09-02
ParsimOniOus Querists.

cation accepts the somewhat enlarged
views of duty which the people SO gen
erously accord him, the delusion would
be dispelled by an inspection of the
scores of letters received each month
at every Office of any importance, ask
ing for information as varied as the
personal characteristics of the persons
them. Olympia seems to be
specially favored by this class of
searchers for the truth, and the temper
Of our proverbially good-natured Nasty
is often seriously disturbed by de-
which would require the con-
slant employment of several additional
clerks to meet, had he not adopted a
rule that relegates all such missives to
the waste-basket, unless, at least, a
stamp is enclosed, to pay postage on a
= reply. BIT the most singular feature
of this species of imposition is, that
very few of the inquirers ever seem to
consider that common courtesy, to
say nothing of justice, requires the en-
closure Of sum sufficient to pay for
postage and the stationery used.
Here is sample letter received this
week, which will serve for illustration,
for it requires, LIST, That the Postmas-
ter shall mail copies of the leading
I'd, Also books or other
matter showing statistics, produc-
tons and localities in Thurston and
counties; Sd, Information
relating to water-power; 4th, Informa-
ton regarding timber, quality of soil,
etc.; 9th, Information regarding the
milling business; 9th, The names and
addresses of mill-men and stock-rais-
ers; 7th, The names of the Land Com
naissioners for the Territory, and 9Th,
maps showing vacant lands, etc. and,
as usual, not a cent is enclosed to pay
for papers, maps or postage, to say
nothing of the many hours time that
would necessarily be consumed in OBJ
tanning the information sought and
reducing it to shape that would be of
service to the inquirer. In quoting,
the peculiar verbiage of the letter is re-
tanned, for it is believed that any effort
to make it conform to the ordinary
rules of syntax would deprive it of its
marked indications of individuality.
We merely correct the photography,
and add the marks Of punctuation:
AUSTIN, Texas, Aug, 81, 1887.
POSTMASTER,
Olympia w. T.:
DEAR Sir PLEASE to have send to nv
address copies of several good, leading
and also any books or mat
ter showing statistics, productions and
localities of country. Thurston county
and adjoining counties. Water power
ask this favor because did not know
who to write to. want information in
regard to timber, quality of land, fruits.
Water power. If it is not to great trou-
bic you will confer. You know about
what l want to have, showing up the
to one who expects when / move
their will be of interest to growing up of
it. The milling business is one of i'm
~ In o NJ 30 sv>fo
ton that you can send me in way of pa
pers and also give me names and ad
dresses mill men, stock men. If Won
please give this your consideration
will be under many obligations. Ad.
dress 2l2 West Linden street, Austin,
Texas. Hoping to hear from you soon,
l am yours fraternally,
NJ. NJ. HoeuE.
Please give me the names of Land
Com. for Territory, and any maps show
ing vacan: land that premptive.
NJ. NJ. H.
This letter is by no means excep-
incoherent in style or unus-
ually comprehensive in it's demands.
It is fair sample of three out of four
received at this postoffice.
Here is another letter from gentle
man who would doubtless prove a
great acquisition to this community:
OFFICE OF GEORGE w. Nicely, J
SHERIFF OF SEWARD Co.,
FARGO SPRINGS, Da-, Aug. II, 1887.
Mr.. P. NJ.
Olympia, w. T.:
SlR:-Will you be 80 kind az to send
me copy of some newspaper printed in
your town. If it is too much trouble for
you to send one, please hand this to the
editor of some good paper. want some
paper to get little idea OF that country,
and ] am not acquainted With any eff the
men Of that country. think
of coming 10 that country from what
I can hear about it. Hoping to get pa
per sOou, am
Respectfully yours,
G. w. Nicely.
We mail this issue of the STANDARD
to Mr.. Nicely, and bid him come. Let
us hope that he will not stand on the
order of his coming but come at once.
Thurston county needs him. She
wants good timber for Sheriff. We
have very little of it out here. 1t is so
scarce that we have kept one man in
that Office a quarter of a century. II
Mr.. Nicely can fill the bill, doubtless
our Sheriff would receive him with
open arms, for the Office has literally
sought the man" till he is tired.
Here is a letter from a correspond.
ent who encloses stamp, and We are
therefore, willing to take his word for
the statement that he is )" good man"
HUDSON, Indiana.
DEAR SIR:-Will you please be SO
kind as to let me know if there is any
kind of work for carpenters and joiners
out there. and do they want a good man
to do such work. What do they pay a
dav for men at carpenter work. Please
tell me the price of your county paper
Let me know by return mail all I ask
you in these lines. If there is a good
chance for man will come as soon as
l get your answer. Address
WIN. H. WHYsoNG,
Hudson,
Steuben Co.,
P. 0. Box 81. Indiana.